PROJECT SITES

The project focused on two key sites where torture has long been systemic – in police and military institutions in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Certainly, it must be acknowledged that reform efforts have led to some improvements. However, in certain parts of these institutions and countries, ill treatment of detainees remains fairly routine. Given that both Nepal and Sri Lanka have now passed through periods of intense conflict and are seeking to stabilise democracy and the rule of law, developing new and effective torture prevention strategies is timely.

Leaders in security and law enforcement institutions in both countries were willing to work with the project teams to explore and develop a novel approach to prevention, most importantly one that would develop their capacity to build and sustain institutional practices and structures that would inhibit torture.